By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 25, 2019: Congress will waive off farm loan in Odisha if the party is voted to power in the State, AICC President Rahul Gandhi said here while addressing a public rally here on Friday.

Besides, Rahul promised to increase the paddy MSP to Rs 2,600 after getting a majority at the Centre.

Addressing the public initially with ‘Jai Jagannath’ at a huge gathering at Tamando on the outskirts of state capital here, Rahul said, “Congress had brought ‘Harit Kranti’ (green revolution) in India that changed the life of Punjab and Haryana. The party wants to do the same in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Odisha.

“The chief duty of the country to protect the farmers”, he remarked.

The Ganhdi scion lambasted the Naveen-led BJD government in Odisha holding it responsible for poverty and lack of growth. “Odisha is rich in minerals, mines and natural resources. But, people are deprived of getting the price that they deserve,” he said.

Describing Naveen Patnaik as Modi’s ‘junior partner’, Rahul made it clear that as the chief minister is indulged in the chit fund scam, his remote control is in the hand of the ‘choukidar’ (indicating Modi).

“Neither the State gets the amount from the Centre, nor can the government ask for it from the Centre”, he remarked.

Recalling Dana Majhi incident, he said, “This is the State where a tribal walks miles by carrying the body of his wife on his shoulder.”

He promised to take the State on the path of growth and development if the party comes to power in the State. “What Odisha will produce here, we will transport to the US and abroad,” Rahul said.

Recalling the BJP’s poll manifesto, he said that Modi had promised to generate employment. But, 60 lakh youths in Odisha migrate to other States including Karnataka, Hyderabad and Delhi in search of jobs.

“If our party forms the government here, no youth need to go outside the State for jobs. The party will try to fill up the posts lying vacant in the government.”

On Rafale aircraft issue, he clarified, “We had made it clear that the Rafale aircrafts should be manufactured in India and Odisha to generate a number of jobs. The choukidar PM visits France along with Anil Ambani and recommends the French President for the deal in favour of Anil Ambani.”

He said that PM Narendra Modi as ‘Choukidar Chor Hai’ (watchman is a thief).

“Instead of the entrepreneurs, the taxpayers’ money will go to the farmers and hospitals if Congress returns to power here. We will run the government hearing the voice of people. We will protect the tribals land and work towards development.”

Earlier in the day, Rahul had targeted both the BJD and Modi governments during interaction programme with the intellectuals at Town Hall of the Hotel May Fair after arriving in Bhubaneswar.

He cornered the Modi-led BJP government over job crisis, unemployment and failure of various central schemes including Make In India.

He said that the Power has become centralised under the Modi government. He also compared India with Chinese economy and incapability of the present government to reshape India’s growth.

A young entrepreneur is not able to have hassle-free banking services to set up his new business as the reputed firm gets opportunities. Through demonetisation and GST, Modi destroyed small and medium scale businesses that resulted in job crisis in India, he said.

Reacting to the State’s most populous farmers’ scheme KALIA, Rahul said, “Naveen Patnaik suddenly woke up to the plight of farmers.”